BOSTON – Morgan Geekie scored a game-winning power play goal with 1:45 left in regulation and the Boston Bruins beat Buffalo 3-1 on Saturday night, handing the Sabers their 13th straight loss.

Charlie Coyle scored in the first period and Brad Marchand added an empty-net goal for the Bruins, who improved to 10-4-1 under interim coach Joe Sacco.

JJ Peterka scored for Buffalo, which is in its worst stretch since a club-record 18-game losing streak (0-15-3) in 2021. The Sabers haven’t won since a win in San Jose on Nov. 23.

Just as a power play was coming to an end, Geekie scored a one-time shot from the slot for the winner.

Coyle came out of the penalty box after his hooking penalty was completed. He received a clearing pass from Nikita Zadorov and went on a breakaway. James Reimer made a stop with his left skate, but Coyle put the puck in on his backside. Reimer stopped 16 shots.

Peterka hit Joonas Korpisalo with a wrist strike over his right shoulder and tied the game at 1-1 towards the end of the second period. Korpisalo made 19 saves.

Takeaways

Sabres: They probably should have been the more tired team after Friday’s home loss to Toronto, but they allowed the Bruins to hold their own for much of the game, particularly in the second round.

Bruins: After a five-game trip to the West in which they went 2-2-1, they had a favorable opponent to play against after an off day. They returned to a listless game that had bogged them down this season before giving it up again.

Key moment

Boston had a goal taken off the board after a review found David Pastrnak was offside when Geekie scored 7:16 into the third period.

Key statistics

Neither team reached double digits in shots on goal at any point.

Next

The Sabers visit the Islanders on Monday and the Bruins host the Capitals the same evening.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl